Timor-Leste Leaders Highlight PDIP's Historic Role in Democratic Struggle
President of Timor-Leste José Ramos-Horta, Deputy Prime Minister Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, and Senior Advisor Nelson Santos highlighted the track record and historical legacy of PDI Perjuangan (PDIP) as the epicentre of the democratic struggle, whose influence has also been felt in Timor-Leste. The remarks were made after the conferral of Timor-Leste’s highest honour, the Grande Colar da Ordem de Timor-Leste, upon Indonesia’s fifth President, Megawati Soekarnoputri, in Dili on Thursday, 9 July 2026.
José Ramos-Horta said that Megawati’s long history of struggle cannot be separated from PDI Perjuangan. Ramos-Horta specifically pointed to the dark events of the New Order era as a turning point that hardened the mentality of party political struggle in Indonesia.
“The attack on 27 July 1996 (Kudatuli) on the PDI headquarters in Jakarta was a defining moment. The violence that day transformed Mrs Megawati into the most prominent civilian symbol of democratic resistance, from which the Reformasi movement was later born,” Ramos-Horta said on Friday, 10 July 2026.
The Kudatuli incident is regarded as the solid foundation that gave rise to PDI Perjuangan as a political force fighting for the sovereignty of the people.
An emotional testimony about the resilience and political maturity of PDIP was also delivered by Timor-Leste’s Deputy Prime Minister, Kalbuadi Lay. As someone who lived through the period when Timor-Leste was still part of Indonesia, Kalbuadi said he knew full well the dynamics and hardships faced by the bull-logoed party under pressure from the ruling regime.
“For PDI Perjuangan, I myself experienced and knew of it because at that time we were still with Indonesia. I know how diligent Mrs Megawati was, and how patient a mother can be in waiting for the day when the people would realise that truth is everything,” said Chico, as Kalbuadi Lay is affectionately known.
Meanwhile, Senior Advisor to the President of Timor-Leste, Nelson Santos, emphasised PDIP’s institutional role in the regional political landscape of Southeast Asia. According to Nelson, PDIP as a party institution holds great historical value and serves as an example for a country newly building its democratic system, such as Timor-Leste.
“PDI Perjuangan as a party has a long history. A party that has witnessed and safeguarded Indonesia’s democratic transition,” Nelson Santos said.
Nelson considered PDIP’s experience in guiding Indonesia’s transition from an authoritarian regime towards a more open and stable system to be an important one. For that reason, he said Timor-Leste holds PDIP in respect and wishes to learn from the party’s experience in building democracy.
“For us in Timor-Leste, there is certainly much we can learn from PDI Perjuangan. And of course, we will draw on the history and experience of PDI Perjuangan for the progress of our own democracy as well,” he said.
Through Megawati’s presence in Dili, Timor-Leste’s leaders believe that bilateral relations between Indonesia and Timor-Leste will grow stronger in future, both at governmental level and through party-to-party channels such as PDIP.
“They will continue to move along one main path: the path of friendship, reconciliation, and a commitment to preserving international peace,” Nelson said.